Cardiovascular Research Advance Access [Accepted Manuscript] published online on June 3, 2008
Cardiovascular Research, doi:10.1093/cvr/cvn138
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Differences in the mechanism of metabolic regulation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels containing Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 subunits
Room 107, The Rayne Institute, BHF Laboratories and Department of Medicine, University College London, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JJ
* Author for correspondence, Tel:- 020 7679 6391, Fax:- 020 7691 2838, e-mail:- a.tinker{at}ucl.ac.uk
Aims: ATP sensitive K+ channels (KATP) sense adenine nucleotide concentrations and thus couple the metabolic state of the cell to membrane potential. The hetero-octameric complex of a sulphonylurea receptor (SUR2B) and an inwardly rectifying K+ channel (Kir6.1) and the corresponding native channel in smooth muscle are relatively insensitive to variations in intracellular ATP. Activation of these channels in blood vessels during hypoxia/ischaemia is thought to be mediated via hormonal regulation such as cellular adenosine release or the release of mediators from the endothelium. In contrast intracellular ATP prominently inhibits Kir6.2 containing complexes, such as those present in cardiac myocytes. Thus we investigated differences in the mechanism of metabolic regulation of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 containing KATP channels.
Methods and Results: We have heterologously expressed KATP channel subunits in HEK293 and CHO cells and studied their function using 86Rb efflux and patch clamping. We show that rodent Kir6.1/SUR2B has direct intrinsic metabolic sensitivity independent of any regulation by protein kinase A. In contrast to Kir6.2 containing complexes, this was not endowed by the ATP sensitivity of the pore forming subunit but was instead a property of the SUR2B subunit. Mutagenesis of key residues within the nucleotide binding domains implicated both domains in governing the metabolic sensitivity.
Conclusion: Kir6.1\SUR2B has intrinsic sensitivity to metabolism endowed by the likely processing of adenine nucleotides at the nucleotide binding domains of SUR2B.
Time for primary review: 25 days
Classification:- Experimental\vasculature\cellular\electrophysiology\ ion channels, ion transport, K-ATP channel, K-channel, smooth muscle